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About Last Mile Park

Last Mile Park is intended as a one-mile walking trail that weaves through Amtrak’s eight above-ground overpasses. The overpasses lie between East Baltimore’s north-of-the-tracks neighborhoods to the north and, to the south, Eager Park and the Johns Hopkins University communities. 

The trail will take pedestrians on a tour of sculptural art, permanent artistic light installations, and green infrastructure. It will provide a museum worthy experience. It celebrates the importance of Baltimore’s working class to the Maryland economy around 1900.

25
8
connecting neighborhoods via

AMTRAK Overpasses

map of proposed trail

The initial pilot installation at the North Gay Street overpass was unveiled on May 2, 2022. 

Work under the second overpass at North Wolfe Street is in development and is fully funded.  Once built, residents will begin to see the actual trail emerge between the N. Gay Street and N. Wolfe Street overpasses.

Last Mile Park is necessary because it helps make it safe for residents north of the tracks to access the many publicly funded parks, playgrounds and restaurants that are south of the tracks. Last Mile Park also supports new economic activity in the north-of-the-tracks neighborhoods. It invites foot traffic to travel north. Last Mile Park helps to end the economic isolation of neighbors to the north.

This exciting work is only just beginning!

Ending Baltimore’s Tale of Two Cities

Infrastructure Grounded
in Fairness & Empathy

With Last Mile Park, it becomes safe and interesting to walk between north-of-the-tracks neighborhoods and the new Eager park. This strategy lights the streets, turns common sidewalks and passages into atlases of community stories, and above all, it ends the economic isolation of working class communities.

SITES

Inaugural Site: The Beacon

The Beacon serves as the inaugural permanent artistic light installation for Last Mile Park. The Beacon comprises 16 light totems. One totem is dedicated each year to an individual or organization that has been a beacon of hope and change serving East Baltimore.

The Beacon is an illuminated gateway, welcoming all to the north-of-the-tracks neighborhoods of East Baltimore. It honors those who walk the community. 

Each light is constructed of an inner and outer perforated shade. Those layers create a “moire” visual effect enhanced by the glow of blue and orange LED lights.

The design team sought to capitalize on the colors emitted at dusk. This is the point of transition from day to night and the point at which the lighting installation comes to life. The colors pull from their surroundings, the city and the sky. 

The amber reflects the warmth of the lights of Baltimore City just beyond. The blue reflects the coolness of the last remaining bits of sky just before it goes dark.

Daytime photo of one side of the lights that are installed under the first site of Last Mile Park

SITES

Coming Soon: N. Wolfe & E. Preston

The 2nd installation will be at the intersection of N. Wolfe Street and East Preston Street. The grant funding has been approved, so watch here for updates!

map

Honorees

Rev. Dantwan Broady

Temple of God Baptist Church

Ella Durant

Past President, Collington Square Community Association

Mr. William Richards

Facilities Manager of Baltimore Pumphouse, Legacy Resident

Partners

Funders

  • Abell Foundation
  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Bloomberg Philanthropies
  • James and Mary Miller Charitable Gift Fund
  • State of Maryland (Bond Bills?)
  • United States Congress, with particular thanks to—
    • The Honorable Ben Cardin
    • The Honorable Chris Van Hollen

Project Partners

  • Baltimore Heritage
  • Baltimore City Planning Commission
  • Baltimore City Planning Department
  • City Life Community Builders
  • Collington Square Community Association
  • Councilmember Robert Stokes
  • Cross Street Partners
  • Eager Park Neighborhood Association
  • East Baltimore Development INC
  • HeartSmiles
  • Israel Baptist Church
  • John Hopkins University
  • New Broadway East Community Association
  • Rebuild Metro
  • Southern Baptist Church
  • Mary Harvin Transformation Center Community Development Center
  • State Senator Cory McCray
  • The 6th Branch

Awards

Special Recognition for Citizen Planning of Last Mile Park

From the Maryland Planning Commissioners’ Association, 2019

For the work to date, ACT fundraised and facilitated numerous community workshops and steering committee meetings from 2018 to 2020 and again in 2022, in which these partners participated. The partnership was formally designated as a Steering Committee in 2019. 

On April 18, 2019, Baltimore City accepted the 46-page Concept Design for the pilot site of Last Mile park as an official city plan. In November 2019, the Maryland Planning Commissioners Association awarded Broadway East residents special recognition for Citizen Planning of Last Mile Park. 

Excellence in Design Award

From AIA Maryland | The American Institute of Architects, 2023

This award for “The Beacon” recognized excellence in architectural design.

Excellence in Design Award

From AIA Baltimore | The American Institute of Architects | Baltimore Chapter, 2023

This award for “The Beacon” recognized excellence in architectural design.

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American Communities Trust

PO Box 50160
Baltimore MD 21211-9998

410-989-1607